The library and bookdrop will be closed for Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, August 30 through Monday, September 1.
Menu
Reading Public Library was awarded a one-year federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) direct grant by the the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). Centered in nature, health, and sustainability, this grant will expand related education and gardening spaces at the RPL.
The grant is also a collaboration across the community around matters our community cares about. Some of our many partners include:
The grant aims to transform Reading Public Library into a vibrant hub for intergenerational and inclusive education on nature, health and sustainability.
Join Reading Public Library's very own garden club! This free club welcomes everyone, regardless of experience or time availability. All you need is curiosity about gardens and nature. We meet about six times per year and volunteers help water, weed, and maintain our lovely garden areas.
RPL is seeking wildlife habitat certification to highlight our support of birds and pollinators with native plants. Essential for the food chain, native plants also improve the local ecosystem by providing food and shelter for birds and help pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Non-native plants often don't have enough nectar or pollen. Good examples of native plants in our garden include Shrubby St. John’s Wort, Mountain Mint, Goldenrod, Bluestem grass, and Swamp Milkweed.
Official Recognition and Certification: The National Wildlife Federation certifies gardens as a wildlife habitats. You can show your commitment to conservation, as well! There is an easy checklist to follow to ensure your space meets specific habitat needs and a small fee to process your certification. Visit the National Wildlife Federation website for more details on how to create a habitat garden.
Environmental Impact: Your habitat garden becomes part of a larger network of wildlife corridors and habitats. Even small backyard habitats connect fragmented natural areas, allowing animals to move safely between larger patches. These connections provide important food, water, shelter, and nesting spots for wildlife. This is especially important in urban and suburban areas where natural spaces are scarce. Habitat loss is a major threat to wildlife. Every wildlife habitat garden helps address this problem.
Educational Value: The designation process teaches you about native plants, wildlife needs, and local ecosystems. You'll learn which plants attract specific birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects. This knowledge helps you make better gardening choices and understand your role in the local environment.
Community Leadership: RPL aims to inspire neighbors and friends to create their own wildlife-friendly spaces. Many people don't realize how easy it is to support wildlife in their yards. Your example can spark positive changes throughout your neighborhood.
Learn More: Be sure to check out RPL's pass for "Garden in the Woods," one of eight Native Plant Trust properties in New England where you can learn more about these topics. Other resources include:
Visit RPL's sample sensory garden area. Sensory gardens highlight different ways to experience a garden and help connect you with nature and your surroundings. These spaces share nature's healing power with everyone, regardless of their abilities.
What is a Sensory Garden? A sensory garden stimulates your senses: sight, smell, sound, and touch. The goal is to encourage visitors to interact with the garden. Example plants include herbs like lavender, oregano, and thyme for smell. Sweet Fern and Red Twig Dogwood change color in the fall and winter. Lamb's Ear is soft and safe to touch. These gardens may have wind chimes, water features, or tall grasses to create sound. Gardeners can add bright blooms throughout the year for visual pleasure.
Health and Healing Benefits: Spending time in nature cuts stress, lowers blood pressure, and improves our well-being. Sensory gardens enhance these benefits by engaging multiple senses. They help people with disabilities, autism, or sensory processing problems. The blend of textures, smells, sounds, and colors can ease worry. It can also boost mood and offer calming experiences. For people with memory loss gardens may spark good memories and keep minds active.
Great for Learning: These gardens are wonderful for learning about nature. You can explore with your senses and enjoy hands-on activities. Kids especially love touching plants, smelling flowers, and hearing garden sounds. This hands-on experience helps them learn in various ways and understand nature better.
Everyone Can Enjoy Them: Full-size sensory gardens are designed for people of all abilities. They often have raised plant beds, wide paths, and plants chosen for their textures or pleasant smells. This design allows people who can’t see well, use wheelchairs, or have other needs to enjoy the garden fully.
Building Community: These spaces bring together people of all ages and abilities. Sensory gardens work well in hospitals, schools, and care facilities. They help people make friends and build community ties.
Learn More:
What is that newly arrived round object near one of the library's towers? It's a sink—one that's returned home after residing over 40 years in the yard of a lifetime Reading resident who's also a former Highland School student.
The Reading Public Library building was originally built as the Highland School in 1896. Designed by renowned architect Horace G. Wadlin, it was the town's first academic building with indoor plumbing. And that included two lavatories (called basements back in the day): girls on one side, boys on the other. In a separate section of each lavatory, a large round sink sat on a pedestal.
A pipe came through the sink's center hole, ending in a ball with the lower half filled with sprinkler-like holes. When the water was turned on, water would spray around the sink so that many kids could simultaneously wash their hands. A bar of soap (usually white, so perhaps Ivory) was provided in a wall-mounted dispenser with a crank; when a kid turned the handle, grated soap fell into the child's hand.
Due to declining town-wide school enrollment, the Highland School was decommissioned and left vacant in 1980. A study committee appointed to investigate what to do with it ultimately decided to turn it into the town's much-needed new library. Reading had tried for many years to fund a larger library building because the one in the center—now the Town Hall annex—was way too small. This was a wonderful solution!
When plans to convert the Highland School to the Reading Public Library were drawn up and renovations commenced in 1984, one resident who served on both the Study Committee and the Building Committee asked if it was possible to save one of these unique and historical sinks from being scrapped. The Building Committee agreed. With some planning, a local nursery owner delivered the sink to a private residence, where it has anonymously resided until August 2025.
So, after more than forty years away, this rescued sink has returned home and is one of the few original artifacts remaining from the town's beloved Highland School building.
Learn More:
2013 Highland School Celebration (NOBLE Digital Heritage)
Horace G. Wadlin (Video)
Horace G. Wadlin (Wikipedia)
Indoor plants do more than look pretty – they’re good for your health and happiness! Having plants inside helps clean the air you breathe by removing harmful chemicals and turning carbon dioxide into oxygen. When plants are around, you’ll likely feel more relaxed and in a better mood. They can even help you focus better at work or while studying.
Plants make any room look better and more welcoming. Research shows that people who work in spaces with plants are more creative and get more done. So whether you’re at home, work, or school, adding some green plants to your space can make a real difference in how you feel and how well you can concentrate.
The RPL Plant Lab is a year-round series that helps kids in grades 3-5 discover the joy of gardening. Students learn to grow food from seed to harvest on our second-floor patio. In summer, they turn their fresh produce into healthy snacks. Winter activities include caring for house plants, nature journaling, and planning spring gardens.
Rooted in Reading expands the RPL Plant Lab to welcome visitors of all ages and abilities. New accessible raised beds and updated seating make our patio space more inclusive for everyone to enjoy gardening and outdoor activities.
Our Seed Library offers free seeds to the community while accepting donations from local gardeners. We focus on fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers that thrive in Reading and support both people and wildlife. The Seed Library program makes gardening accessible to beginners and helps experienced gardeners share successful varieties with neighbors – promoting health, wellness, and community connection.
Rooted in Reading expands and showcases this wonderful collection, improving access to fresh produce and curating collections of locally adapted varietals.
RPL is working on adding a selection of herbs to the outdoor planters. Growing herbs is an excellent project for both new gardeners and children! Herbs are generally forgiving, grow relatively quickly, and provide immediate rewards through their wonderful scents and flavors. They're also practical since you can use them in cooking.
Here are some herbs that are great for beginner gardeners and kids:
Basil is probably the top choice - it grows fast, smells amazing, and everyone loves pinching the leaves to release the aroma.
Mint is nearly indestructible and spreads enthusiastically (maybe too enthusiastically - consider growing it in a container). Add to your iced tea or fruit salad for a refreshing twist.
Chives are incredibly hardy and come back year after year. They produce pretty purple flowers that are also edible.
Parsley grows well in partial shade and is very tolerant of different conditions. Both flat-leaf and curly varieties work well.
Oregano and thyme are perennials that require minimal care once established and handle drought well.
Most herbs prefer well-draining soil and at least 4-6 hours of sunlight daily. They can thrive in containers, making them perfect for small spaces or apartment gardening. The quick results and sensory experience make herb gardening particularly engaging for children and those building their confidence with gardening.
Rooted in Reading is made possible by grant funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Additional support is provided by the Friends of the Reading Public Library and the Reading Public Library Foundation.
